Steaua Bucharest 1 - Liverpool 1: Pepe Reina happy to take rap

COCK-UP keeper Pepe Reina held his hands up for the howler that gifted Steaua Bucharest an equaliser last night.

But he was delighted with the point that booked the Anfield outfit’s place in the last 32 of the Europa League and thrilled with the displays of some of the youngsters boss Roy Hodgson pitched into the game Reina said: “I thought one of their players was offside for the goal but I’ve watched replays and it’s my fault.

“He was definitely obstructing me, but I definitely should have reacted much better than I did. I will handle the mistake and improve.”

But he praised the younger players – including the likes of Martin Kelly, Danny Wilson, Dani Pacheco and Jonjo Shelvey – for earning the team a point.

“We have to give them some credit because we made a great effort,” he added.

“We have players out there with not much experience and they showed great character and helped us get the point we needed.”

Kop boss Roy Hodgson made 10 changes from the team that lost to Tottenham at the weekend with only Reina, last night’s captain, retaining his place.

He was targeted by a fan with a laser beam in the fi rst half, but let the ball slip from his grasp and through his legs after the break.

The Spaniard suffered similar earlier in the campaign against Trabzonspor when threats were made to abandon the game but this time there seemed little sympathy from Turkish referee Bulent Yildirim and no reaction to tannoy announcements.

Fortunately, he had little to worry about in the opening exchanges despite Steaua enjoying the bulk of possession and when Eric Bicfalvi did get a clear header from six yards, his own sights were awry and his header went over.

Milan Jovanovic, on the other hand, showed pinpoint accuracy with a much harder chance when Liverpool finally launched an attack of their own in the 19th minute.

The Serb had started the move and managed to flick Ryan Babel’s curling ball inside the far post to silence the small but noisy local crowd.

By way of celebration, he went to stand in front of the gaggle of Liverpool fans who managed to make their way to Bucharest yesterday and, answering speculation that he could soon be heading back to Standard Liege, pointed determinedly to the floor as if to indicate he is staying put.

Joe Cole managed 75 minutes on his return from a hamstring injury, but looked rusty and his first touch saw him tread on the ball when Babel had given him a clear sight of goal from 15 yards. Liverpool’s biggest scare of the first half came just before the break when Bogdan Stancu got clear, but after taking the ball neatly, Steaua’s most dangerous striker inexplicably shot wide from eight yards.

The Romanians again came out of the blocks stronger and five minutes after the re-start Cristian Tanase picked out Geraldo in front of goal.

His downward header was straight out of a coaching manual but lacked conviction and Reina grabbed the ball on his line.

Unfortunately he failed to repeat the trick 11 minutes later.

Distracted by Bogdan Stancu in front of him, he allowed Eder Bonfim’s similarly weak header to squirm through his legs.

Sotiros Kyrgiakos hit the bar with a header as Liverpool briefly found some fire on an icy-cold night but although Banel Nicolita went close with a low drive, Hodgson’s side held firm.